Why 'Ghostbusters' Wasn't the 'Career-Changing' Role Ernie Hudson Expected

— -- There were four main "Ghostbusters" in the 1984 film -- Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson.

But you wouldn't know that by just glancing at the trailer or looking at the movie poster because Huson, 68, is just not there.

More than 30 years after the iconic film hit theaters, Hudson took a look back at his role and the "mixed feelings" he has about the character, that if had been played by someone like Eddie Murphy, he thinks could have been a bigger presence in the film.

Read: 9 Life Lessons to Take From 'Ghostbusters' on Its 30th Anniversary

"When I originally got the script, the character of Winston was amazing and I thought it would be career-changing. The character came in right at the very beginning of the movie and had an elaborate background: he was an Air Force major something, a demolitions guy. It was great," Hudson wrote in an op-ed for Entertainment Weekly, as part of the magazine's reunions issue. "Now I’ve heard, over the years, that the part had been written for Eddie Murphy—all of which Ivan Reitman says is not true. But it was a bigger part, and Winston was there all the way through the movie."

Hudson writes that after auditioning for the movie, taking half his going rate at the time and letting those involved know he really wanted the part, he got the new script the night before filming began and his role was severely cut down.

"The character was gone. Instead of coming in at the very beginning of the movie, like page 8, the character came in on page 68 after the Ghostbusters were established ... So that was pretty devastating," he added.

Hudson pleaded his case to Reitman the next day, but there was nothing he could do about it.

"I was a single dad, and we were struggling to kind of hold on and pay the rent," he wrote. "30 years later, I look back at the movie and it works very well the way it is. I think the character works with what he has to work with. But I’ve always felt like, 'Man, if I could’ve played that original character…'"

The actor admits that fans do see the "Ghostbusters" as four characters, not three, but that people still ask him where his character goes.

"That’s the thing with Winston: He will pop up and then disappear," he added. " I love the character and he’s got some great lines, but I felt the guy was just kind of there. I love the movie, I love the guys. I’m very thankful to Ivan for casting me. I’m very thankful that fans appreciate the Winston character. But it’s always been very frustrating—kind of a love/hate thing, I guess."

Now, "Ghostbusters" is a lesson for Hudson, on how to deal with life-changing events when they don't work out the way you always wanted.

"I don’t want to make it a negative. I’ve survived this 30 years because of what I learned on 'Ghostbusters'; you learn to adjust. What I did was I turned to TV. I literally did a different television show almost every week, going from show to show," he continued, but adding the promise of "Ghostbusters" for him never came true.

"I’ve never been told that I’ve gotten a job because of 'Ghostbusters,'" he wrote. "I think there have been a few jobs that I’ve lost [because of it]."

Still, Hudson says the movie still holds a "special place" for him.

"I’m still hoping that I’m going to get that one great role that I thought I had in the original 'Ghostbusters.' 30 years later, I’m still looking," he added.